New Missionaries

     Well, I guess better late than never.  I didn't have much to write about on Sunday and we got too busy to write on Monday and Tuesday so I will catch up now.  During the week, we had people from Senaju training at the temple.  Senaju is a little town where native Indians live.  The older generation only speak Que'chi, not Spanish.  It is a very difficult language and not many people can understand it or speak it or read it.  We saw the written language and boy, it is really different.  The younger generation is learning Spanish and about 7 men and one woman came to the temple to learn all they could so they can help when the saints from Senaju come to the temple next week.  We had a small group here on Friday so they could practice what they had learned.  Most of the group that came couldn't read or write.  It will be wonderful for them to have a few who can help them and communicate with them at the temple.  It will be an interesting week.
     On Monday, we walked to Hermana Maria Najera's home.  Maria is a member of our ward here.  She has no use of her hands and walks all bent over.  She is a painter and paints with her feet.  She wanted to show us her paintings.    

 

This is Maria with her husband holding the picture that the Murri's bought.  It takes her about a month to do one painting, and she paints about two hours a day.  She painted a self portrait and when we saw it we couldn't resist.  We bought it.

     She uses oils.  This is the position that she has to be in to paint.  She speaks some English, having lived in Colorado to receive physical therapy.  Her husband is from Spain and is not a member.  Maria has a sweet personality and we are thankful that we have the privilege to know her.

     Monday evening for Family Home Evening we welcomed our newest couple missionaries. 

      This is the Eberhard's.  They are from Southern Utah.  This is the second marriage for them both.  Elder Eberhard and his first wife served 4 missions together before she died.  They served in Guatemala City twice in the mission office, once in Quezaltenango in the mission office, and in Argentina.  They met on an internet dating site and this is their second mission together, having served in the Washington DC Temple. 

     And this is the Wilson's.  They are from Almo, Nevada and served in the Las Vegas Temple.  This is their second mission, having served as membership support in Pero.  They were so thrilled with their apartment.  They had no hot water in Pero.

     Our mission family seems to change monthly as missionaries come and go but this is our mission family right now.

 Front row: Los Thompsons, Hermana Guzman, Los Galvez, Elder Padilla, Elder Cuellar

Middle Row:  Hermana Roberts, Hermana's Caballero, Paniagua, Tanner, Padilla, Cuellar

Back Row: Pres. Roberts, Los Eberhard, Los Murris, Los Barlows, Los Wilsons, Los Olsens, Hermana Cordon, y President y Hermana Burk, 27 in all.

     We were on the PM shift last week but are back to the AM shift for this week.  It is easier for me to get our walk in when we are on the AM shift.  That way I have the shift over and know how much energy I have left and that determines how long we walk.  We have to watch the weather and try to get the walk in before the afternoon rains come.  Everything is turning green and beautiful. 

     We send our love to all.  We pray that you are enjoying life and are well.  We love being here serving in this temple.  We love serving these special children of our Heavenly Father.  Have a great week and we will write again soon.  Love Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Lon and Nancy